Flow indicating device



y 28, 1957 H. M. BUCK 2,794,182

FLOW INDICATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1955 2. 2'7 23 L fiq zs FIG. 2.

INVENTOR.

Henry M. BucAg.

A TTOR/VE X United States Patent FLOW INDICATING DEVICE Henry M. Buck, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ease Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 526,825 8 Claims. (Cl. 340-239) This application relates generally to a fluid flow indicator and, particularly, it relates to a fluid flow indicator for use in well bores. More particularly, the invention relates to transmitting to the surface of the earth sound waves produced in a well bore; the sound waves are produced by contacting a movable clapper member with a stationary member wherein the movable member is moved by the force of fluid flowing through the device. A microphone picks up the sound waves and converts them to electrical impulses; the electrical impulses are transmitted to the surface of the earth where they may be registered in any desired manner.

Fig. l is a sectional view of the indicator inserted in a borehole including means for registering at the earths surface the sound produced in the borehole.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the clapper member.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the flow indicator generally designated 1 is raised and lowered in borehole 2 by means of an electrical conducting cable 3 which winds and unwinds on sheave 4. The indicator specifically comprises four parallel, vertical rods 5 connected to end members 6 and 7. The rods 5 are arranged about the peripheries of the respective end members 6 and 7 about 90 apart to provide an enclosed space 3. Within the enclosed space 8 is suspended a flexible ball chain 9 connected to end members 6 and 7. End members 6 is a flat, cylindrical disk to which is connected the upper end of ball chain 9 as at indentation 10. Rod member 7 is a cylindrical ring provided with a cross piece 11 to which is connected the lower end ball chain 9 as at 12.

The rods 5 are preferably secured to the end members 6, 7 by welding but any conventional form of attachment, such as screw threads, may be used. Ball chain 9 is loosely connected; that is, it is connected to hang limp to permit lateral and vertical movement. A clapper member 13 is secured to ball chain 9, preferably about midway between the end members 6 and 7. Clapper 13 is a disk-shaped member having concave face surfaces 14 and 15, as shown in Fig. 2. Disk-shaped member 13 also has a polygonally-shaped periphery 16, as best shown in Fig. l. The concave face surfaces are provided to create increased turbulence of the fluid in the vicinity of the disk to prevent the fluid flow from slipping by or over the disk without causing movement of the disk. The polygonal configuration is provided to aid in contacting rod members 5; that is, to insure a sharp contact between the clapper and rods. Ring member 7 contains ports 17 and 18, formed by crosspiece 11, to facilitate entry and egress of fluid into or out of enclosed space 8.

A microphone 19 is positioned on end member 6 to pick up the sound waves produced and to convert the sound waves to electrical impulses. The microphone may be secured to end member 6 in any desired manner. In this instance the microphone was welded to end member 6. Microphone 19 may be provided with a protective shield 20 secured to end members 6 in any desired Patented May 28, 1957 ice manner as by welding. Cable 3, preferably forming a fluid-tight seal 21 with shield 20, is connected to microphone 19. Cable 3 supports the indicator 1 and transmits the electrical impulses produced in microphone 19 to the surface of the earth. Any type of recording may be employed to record the electrical impulses. One method, illustrated in Fig. l, connects cable 3 to a source of electrical energy 22, a transformer 23 to change the voltage of the circuit, an amplifier 24 to amplify the electrical impulses and an aural monitor 25 to convert the electrical impulses to sound waves. A tape recorder 26 may be used to register the amplified electrical impulses in place of the aural monitor. The electrical circuit may be grounded as at 27.

Operation In operation, the indicator 1 is lowered into the borehole 2 by means of sheave 4 and cable 3. Aat any point in the borehole where fluid flow occurs, the fluid will contact clapper member 13, causing the clapper to move and strike the sounding rods 5, thereby producing sound waves. Downward flow may enter between rods 5, as shown by the arrows, move the clapper and then pass out of the device, through rods 5 and through ports 17, 18. Upward flow will pass through ports 17, 18 and through rods 5, as indicated by the arrows, strike the clapper and pass out between rods 5. Therefore, flow in any direction will cause the clapper 13 to strike the rods 5 and produce the sound waves. To insure sufficient movement for clapper 13, ball chain 9 is made flexible to permit lateral and vertical movement of the clapper 13. Further, clapper 13 is loosely connected to ball chain 9, permitting clapper 13 a certain amount of movement relative to ball chain 9. The sound waves produced by clapper 13 striking rods are picked up by microphone 19. Microphone 19 converts the sound waves to electrical impulses and electrical impulse transmission cable 3 transmits the electrical impulses to the surface of the earth where they are sent to any type registering unit desirable. As illustrated, I amplify the electrical impulses in an amplifier 24 and then convert the electrical impulses back to sound waves by means of the aural montior 25. A tape recorder 26 may be substituted for the aural monitor.

The clapper restrainer 9 is preferably a ball chain but may be any flexible type member, as for example, a spring. The rods and clapper may be formed of any material capable of producing sound waves on contact therebetween. The rods 5 may be hollow or solid, circular or polygonal in cross section and any number may be used that will permit fluid passage therebetween. The entire unit should be made of corrosion resistant material where corrosive fluids are apt to be encountered.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fluid flow indicating device comprising two spaced apart supporting end members, a plurality of rods extending between said end members, a flexible member positioned adjacent said rods, a fluid flow movable clapper means mounted on said flexible member movably contacting said rods on flow of fluid through said device, a microphone positioned on one of said end members, an electrical impulse transmission cable connected to said microphone, and an electrical impulse registering means connected to said cable.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said register-- ing means comprises an amplifier to amplify said electrical impulses transmitted and an aural monitor to convert said amplified electrical impulses to sound waves.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said registering means comprises a tape recorder.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said clapper means comprises a disk of polygonal configuration having opposing concave face surfaces.

53A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible member comprises a ballchain loosely suspended between said end members.

6. A device as recited inclaimfl wherein said other end member is provided with fluid'flow ports.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said rod means comprises four vertical parallel rods spaced equally apart about the periphery of said endmembers.

8. A fluid flow indicating, device comprising two spaced apart supporting end members, four vertically extending soundin g rodsabetween said end members, said rods-providing an enclosedgspace, a ballchainpositioned in saidenclgsed space and connected tosaid-endmembers,

i a fluid flow movable disk clapper means mounted on said ball chain movably contacting said rods on flow of fluid through said enclosed space, a microphone positioned on one of said end members and an electrical circuit connected to said microphone including registering means to register said produced sound waves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,995 Straatman Sept. 10, 1935 2,283,429 Ennis May 19, 1942 2,333,164 Pisher Nov. 2, 1943 2,361,458 Converse Oct. 31, 1944 

